Digital bed system

• US 9,591,995 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sleep Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blumberg J. Seth
• Inventors: Blumberg, J. Seth
• Primary Examiner(s): Sosnowski, David E
• Assistant Examiner(s): KURILLA, ERIC J
• Application Number:
  US11/851,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20080052837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,477 Days
• Field of Search: 572/2, 593/3, 569/0, 561/3, 571/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/04 Seating furniture, e.g. sofas, couches, settees, or the like, with movable parts changeable to beds; Chair beds
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/34 Joining seats, chairs, or couches to form beds
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/62 Table beds; Billiard table beds, or like beds convertible tables A47B85/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 23/002 with separate resilient support elements, e.g. elastomeric springs arranged in a two-dimensional matrix pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats

Abstract

In one embodiment, the digital bed system is comprised of an array of support cells. Each support cells is capable of communicating with a controller and increasing and decreasing in firmness in response to commands issued by a controller. The support cells are operatively connected to a communication channel that is also connected to a controller. The controller is capable of receiving data from the support cells and is also capable of issuing commands to each of the support cells. The controller is programmed issue commands to increase or decrease the firmness of individual support cells within the support cells.

Claims

1. A digital bed system that actively monitors the position of a sleeper and dynamically adjusts its sleeping surface in a manner tailored to the individual sleeper'"'"'s needs, comprising:

an array of at least four independently controlled support cells, each of the cells being configured to communicate with a controller, each of the cells comprising an actuator configured to substantially change position in response to commands issued by a controller so as to reshape the bed, said reshaping of the bed resulting from a change in a plurality of said actuators, each of said actuators being an actuator selected from the set consisting of;

an electromagnetic actuator, a plasma actuator, a servo, a piston actuator, a hydraulic actuator, an electric actuator, or a screw-type actuator;

a communication channel operatively connected to each of the cells;

at least one sensor configured to gather a measurement relating to a state of a user'"'"'s body and to output a signal comprising data reflecting said measurement relating to the state of the user'"'"'s body;

a controller operatively connected to the communication channel and operatively connected to the at least one sensor, the controller being configured to receive the signal comprising data from the at least one sensor, the controller being further configured to send a signal comprising commands to each of the support cells, the controller being further configured to use the data received from the at least one sensor to determine a likely location of the sleeper'"'"'s vertebra and configured to use said likely location of the vertebra to determine a change of position of a plurality of the support cells within the array of support cells, said change of position being one that places the vertebra in a selected or prescribed position, and to send a signal comprising commands to each of the plurality of support cells that dynamically change position of the plurality of the support cells to place the vertebra in the selected or prescribed position, such that an ergonomic sleeping position results;

wherein, the controller is programmed to actively monitor the position of a sleeper laying upon the digital bed system and programmed to dynamically issue commands to the plurality of support cells within the array of support cells, over the communication channel, in real time to simultaneously change the position of the plurality of support cells within the array of support cells in response to a determination by the controller that the sleeper'"'"'s body or a particular part thereof is in a particular predetermined position, said particular predetermined position being among at least three predetermined body positions programmed into the controller and specifically detectable by said controller.

2. The digital bed system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support cells, in response to the commands, change in at least one manner selected from the set consisting of:

height from a common plane, firmness, pressure, springiness, amount of hysteresis, dampening, range of motion.

3. The digital bed system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support cells, in response to the commands, change in tactile sensation in at least one manner.

4. The digital bed system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the support cells is capable of sensing and communicating pressure data to a controller and wherein the controller is programmed to accept sleeper/user body position data from the support cells, the controller being further programmed to increase or decrease the firmness of individual support cells within the support cell array in response to sleeper/user body position data received from the support cells.

5. The digital bed system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors, each sensor integrated with a support cell.

6. The digital bed system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further capable of determining a specific location on the bed where the sleeper'"'"'s bones protrude into the bed and a specific location on the bed where soft tissue is being pressed by the bed.

7. The digital bed system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further capable of determining a specific location of the sleeper'"'"'s pregnant belly on the bed.

8. A digital bed system that actively monitors its sleeping surface and adjusts the sleeping surface in response to a sleeper'"'"'s change of position, comprising:

an array of at least four support cells, each of the cells being configured to communicate with a controller, each of the cells comprising an actuator configured to substantially change position in response to commands issued by a controller so as to reshape the bed, said reshaping of the bed resulting from a change in a plurality of said actuators, each of said actuators being an actuator selected from the set consisting of;

an electromagnetic actuator, a plasma actuator, a servo, a piston actuator, a hydraulic actuator, an electric actuator, or a screw-type actuator;

a communication channel operatively connected to each of the support cells;

a plurality of sensors configured to gather a measurement relating to a state of a user'"'"'s body and to output a signal comprising data reflecting said measurement relating to the state of the user'"'"'s body;

a controller operatively connected to the communication channel and operatively connected to the plurality of sensors, the controller configured to receive the signal comprising data from the plurality of sensors, the controller being further programmed to send to the array of support cells a signal comprising commands to simultaneously change the position of each of the support cells, the controller being further configured to determine a likely location of the sleeper'"'"'s vertebra and use said likely location of the vertebra to determine a change of position of a plurality of the support cells within the array of support cells, said change of position being one that places the vertebra in a selected or prescribed position, and to send a signal comprising commands to each of the plurality of support cells that dynamically change position of the plurality of the support cells to place the vertebra in a selected or prescribed position, such that an ergonomic sleeping position results;

wherein the controller is programmed to actively monitor the array of support cells and to dynamically issue commands to the plurality of support cells within the array of support cells, over the communication channel in real time to increase or decrease the size of, or change the shape of, the plurality of individual support cells within the array of support cells in response to a determination by the controller that the sleeper has changed their position, said determination being either a specific determination by the controller that the sleeper has rolled over or a specific determination by the controller that the sleeper has changed from a first specific predetermined body position programmed into the controller to a second specific predetermined body position programmed into the controller, said first and second predetermined body positions being specifically detectable by the controller.

9. The digital bed system of claim 8, wherein the controller is programmed to issue commands to increase or decrease the size of, or change the shape of, a combination of one or more individual support cells within the support cells wherein the digital bed assumes a second shape.

10. A digital bed system that actively monitors its sleeping surface and adjusts the sleeping surface in accordance with a sleeper'"'"'s position, comprising:

a two-dimensional array of support cells, each of the cells communicating configured to communicate with a controller, each of the cells comprising an actuator configured to substantially change position in response to commands issued by a controller so as to reshape the bed, said reshaping of the bed resulting from a change in a plurality of said actuators, each of said actuators being an actuator selected from the set consisting of;

an electromagnetic actuator, a plasma actuator, a servo, a piston actuator, a hydraulic actuator, an electric actuator, or a screw-type actuator;

a communication channel operatively connected to each of the cells;

a controller operatively connected to the communication channel, the controller receiving configured to receive a signal comprising data from each of the support cells, the controller being further configured to send a signal comprising commands to each of the support cells, the controller being further configured to use the data from the support cells to determine a likely location of the sleeper'"'"'s vertebra and configured to use said likely location of the vertebra to determine a change of position of a plurality of actuators, said change of position being one that places the vertebra in a selected or prescribed position, and to send a signal comprising commands to each of a plurality of support cells that dynamically change position of the plurality of actuators to place the vertebra in the selected or prescribed position, such that an ergonomic sleeping position results;

wherein, the controller is programmed to actively monitor the array of support cells and programmed to dynamically issue commands to the plurality of actuators, over the communication channel to simultaneously change the position of a plurality of individual support cells within the array of support cells based upon a determination by the controller as to the specific location on the bed where the controller has determined that the sleeper'"'"'s bones protrude into the bed and the specific location on the bed where the controller has determined that soft tissue is being pressed by the bed.

11. A digital bed system that actively monitors a sleeper and adjusts a sleeping surface in accordance with the sleeper'"'"'s sleep state, comprising:

at least one sensor for gathering configured to gather a measurement relating to a sleep state of a user'"'"'s body;

a communication channel operatively connected to a digital bed having a plurality of cells;

a means for changing a variable effecting the state of the user'"'"'s body;

a controller operatively connected to the communication channel, the controller being configured to receive a signal comprising data from the at least one sensor, the controller being further configured to use the data from the at least one sensor to determine a likely location of the sleeper'"'"'s vertebra and configured to use said likely location of the vertebra to determine a change of position of a plurality of the support cells within an array of support cells, and to send a signal comprising commands to each of the plurality of support cells that dynamically change position of the plurality of the cells to place the vertebra in a selected or prescribed position, such that an ergonomic sleeping position results, the controller being programmed to issue a signal over the communication channel comprising commands to the digital bed to cause the plurality of support cells to simultaneously substantially change their position so as to reshape the bed in response to a determination by the controller that the sleeper is in a sleep state comprising at least one sleep state selected from;

REM sleep, asleep, awake;

said reshaping of the bed resulting from a change in a plurality of actuators, each of said actuators being an actuator selected from;

an electromagnetic actuator, a plasma actuator, a servo, a piston actuator, a hydraulic actuator, an electric actuator, or a screw-type actuator.

12. The digital bed according to claim 11, wherein the measurement relating to the state of the user'"'"'s body comprises bodily biometrics, physical body position in relation to the bed, a measurement of brainwaves, a measurement of pulse rate, measurement of a user'"'"'s breathing rate, or a measurement taken via a medical device.

13. The digital bed according to claim 11, wherein the variable comprises shape of the bed;

music, aroma therapy, tactile stimuli, tactile sensation, light, motion of the bed, or auditory stimuli.

14. A digital bed system that actively monitors sleep conditions of a particular sleeper and adjusts the sleeping surface, comprising:

an array of at least four independently controllable support cells, each of the cells being configured to communicate with a controller, each of the cells comprising an actuator configured to change position in response to commands issued by a controller;

a controller operatively connected to the communication channel, the controller being further configured to receive a signal over the communication channel and to use the signal to determine a likely location of the sleeper'"'"'s vertebra, and configured to use said likely location of the vertebra to determine a change of position of a plurality of the support cells within the array of support cells, said change of position being one that places the vertebra in a selected or prescribed position, and to send a signal over the communication channel the signal comprising commands to each of the plurality of support cells that dynamically change position of the plurality of support cells to place the vertebra in the selected or prescribed position, such that an ergonomic sleeping position results, the controller being programmed to send a signal comprising commands to each of the support cells in response to a change in said sleep conditions;

wherein, the controller is programmed to store a profile, and to send a signal comprising commands to the plurality of support cells within the array of support cells, over the communication channel to simultaneously substantially change the position of the plurality of support cells within the array of support cells so as to reshape the bed in accordance with the profile, said reshaping of the bed resulting from a change in a plurality of said actuators, each of said actuators being an actuator selected from the set consisting of;

an electromagnetic actuator, a plasma actuator, a servo, a piston actuator, a hydraulic actuator, an electric actuator, or a screw-type actuator;

said profile being associated with said particular sleeper and including instructions as to how to change said position of said individual support cells in response to at least one change in said sleep conditions, said controller being programmable with any of a plurality of individual profiles associated with a corresponding plurality of different users.

15. The digital bed system according to claim 14, wherein the controller includes a network interface for receiving the profile via a connected network.

16. The digital bed system according to claim 15, wherein the network interface comprises an interface to the internet.

17. The digital bed system according to claim 14, wherein the profile is created using a statistical analysis of other users.

18. The digital bed system according to either of claim 14, wherein the profile is created in accordance with the user'"'"'s preferences.

19. The digital bed system according to claim 14, wherein the profile is created using a statistical analysis of other users and in accordance with the user'"'"'s preferences.

20. The digital bed system according to claim 14, further comprising a reader for reading the profile from a portable digital storage device.